2011 Cadillac CTS-V coupe (base price $62,165)

This layout will give Cadillac a BMW M6 killer (as well as an M5 sedan slayer).

It will also be the quickest, fastest, most powerful vehicle GM has ever produced - excepting the Corvette Z06. (Just barely.)
A six-speed close-ratio manual transmission or six-speed automatic with sport shift mode will be available, along with form-fitting Recaro sport buckets and metallic/carbon fiber or wood inlays for the interior. GM says the CTS-V coupe should be arriving at dealerships in early spring of 2011.

2011 VW Golf R (estimated base price $34,500)

The new Golf R will leapfrog the current GTI (and the old R32) with a 265 hp turbocharged 2.0 liter engine, dual-clutch Direct Shift Gearbox (or conventional six-speed manual) and permanent all-wheel-drive. With 15 more hp than the old R32, the Golf R should be significantly quicker (expect 0-60 in about 5.5 seconds vs. low sixes for the R32) and with a revised/updated chassis and "active" suspension with multi-mode settings ("normal," "comfort" and "sport") it should ride and handle even better, too.

But the most welcome news may be the Golf R's available manual gearbox. The R32 only offered the DSG "clutchless automatic" - which delivered race driver shifts but just wasn't as much fun as handing the gear changes (and working the clutch) yourself.

VW hasn't said yet whether the new R will be a limited-run model like the R32 (only 5,000 were built annually) so if you're interested in one of these, don't wait too long to visit your local VW store.